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Some of the party’s biggest names – Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, Karl Rove, Haley Barbour and Condoleezza Rice – will deliver personalized briefings, pep talks and fundraising appeals. And no need to hang out with delegates or the media – bundlers who have committed to raising $250,000 or more for Mitt Romney’s campaign also get access to a VIP lounge and treated to special performances by Don Felder, the former lead guitarist for The Eagles, and the Oakridge Boys country band.

The pro-Romney super PAC Restore our Future, the Rove-founded Crossroads groups and the Koch brothers-linked Americans for Prosperity also have their own events feting big donors, with Americans for Prosperity planning a celebration of billionaire industrialist David Koch, one of its founding benefactors.

It’s a fitting celebration of the new big money politics, where a relatively small group of rich backers are providing more cash, mostly through super PACs and 501(c)4 nonprofit groups, than all the grassroots activists combined.

In years past, conventions were a chance to rally the faithful, reward maxed out donors and raise some cash for the national party committees, but that was about it, as the public financing system meant the presidential campaign money race essentially ended at the convention.

Nowadays, there’s more incentive to butter up an emerging class of super donors, who have already given massive sums and will be asked to keep giving clear through Election Day.

“There are more ways for big donors to give more money to help the nominee,” said Matt Schlapp, a former political director for President George W. Bush, who advanced the craft of big donor fundraising with cool nicknames and perks for bundlers.

“In the 2004 general election, our big donors were still important to the extent that we needed them to give to the [Republican National Committee], but we were basically done fundraising by the time the convention rolled around because we accepted public financing,” Schlapp said. “Whereas now, it’s important for the campaigns, the super PACs, the 501(c)4s and the national parties to shepherd the big donors all the way through the elections, because they’re going to be getting asked for big checks right up until Election Day.”

The exclusive and sometimes secretive big donor events in Tampa are being organized by super PACs, Romney’s campaign and even some of the biggest donors, themselves, who, POLITICO has learned, have organized their own series of dinners and panels that are expected to draw big names as well.

The Romney campaign has designated two waterfront hotels — the Westin Tampa Harbour Island and the Marriott Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club — for its bundlers. Those who have committed to raising $250,000 or more – “Stars,” in the campaign’s parlance — get to attend briefings with Jeb Bush, Rice, Haley, Tim Pawlenty, Bob McDonnell and other big names, according to an agenda obtained by POLITICO.

Didn't have a problem with it at all in 2008 when their boy was raking in the dough but they sure as hell have a problem with it in 2012 as Mitt Romney rakes in the dough, hence all the anti-donor stories folks.

America needs a lot of reforms and the Fourth Branch is consistently showing why they also need major reform.

this is what desperation looks like in the ditto head ranks when they're panicked.

this is the result of mixed messaging confusing the hell outta sheeple. you've got limbaugh, ann coulter, romney & ryan saying todd akin should get out and now. then you have hanity, huckabee, tony perkins and other staunch anti-abortionist saying no and supporting todd akin.

this is the sort of turmoil the GOP and its fringe elements have had our country bogged down in, held hostage to and progress stagnated by for years now. whether it's abortion, the wars, LGBT, tea party, religious right... doesn't matter. we need to as a nation rise above this petty anarchist crap and put these people on the bench until they've proven to have grown up!

Doesn't it warm the patriotic cockles of your heart to know your small-dollar contributions to Romney and the Republican Party are going toward providing billionaires with VIP-only expensively catered meals and top-dollar entertainment (though not top-notch entertainment)? Aren't you glad you can finance the red-carpet treatment of the rich and provide them with skyboxes from which the lords of the convention can look down on you?

The rich have been waiting for this year for a long, long time. Paved by our politically corrupted Supreme Court decision, Citizens United, the super wealthy now finally have an opportunity to freely try to buy elections. They can use all their money (or corporation's monies) they want.

Adelson stood in the skybox and smiled on the swarming humans on the convention floor below. "Like little worker bees," he said, nudging a Koch. Koch chuckled, enjoying the sight. "I say it's about time those who own the country ran it too," declared Adelson, setting his jaw.

The Koch brothers snickered, rubbed their hands together and answered in unison: "We've long felt that way."

Ok Politico, can we fully expect the same hard hitting journalism from you regarding events at and around the DNC's gathering in Charlotte. Oh, that's right, I forgot, the GOP is the only party with mega donors. The DNC'S declines all fund raising like that, they never hold $20,000+ fundraiser dinners that's only those out of touch GOP tax dodgers.

There is a big reason to party!! The Obama regime is on the ropes, peaked in the polls, the 2008 base is fractured, swing states are starting to swing, Romney should have the lead for good after the convention!!

In fact, they seem to act as if voting is totally unnecessary----they say to Hell with it.

Romney is a bit more expensive than Ryan, but they relate to him because he can't tell the truth, has no core values, hates women and the middle class, reviles the poor, and will associate only with people whose bank accounts are closer to his.

GOD ALMIGHTY IS THEIR CHAMPION---THEIRS ALONE. IN FACT, HE IS SOMEWHAT SUBORDINATE.

THE POOR, THE DOWNTRODDEN, WOMEN, THE MIDDLE CLASS, THE POOR AND NEEDY ARE TO THEM THE DEVIL'S PROPERTY TO BE CRUSHED.

How dare some sickly black woman in some southern shack be considered their equal....HOW DARE THEY!

Next week we will see story after story about mega-donors and the terrible influence that big money has on politics. Just like this one.

But when the Demmocratic convention starts, all those stories will disappear and it will nothing but a concentration on the Democratic message of the evils of capitalism and the many blessings of socialism and all the wonderful things that Obama has done for us. Well, the wonderful things the has done for the people that don't pay taxes, that is.

That's just the way the partisan press is - they're mostly an unpaid propaganda wing for the Democratic party.

Just ask yourself - how many stories have you seen on homeless people since Obama was elected? It was such a big topic when Bush was in office. And it will be again when Romney is in office.

Didn't have a problem with it at all in 2008 when their boy was raking in the dough but they sure as hell have a problem with it in 2012 as Mitt Romney rakes in the dough, hence all the anti-donor stories folks.

LloydUSA: Aug. 24, 2012 - 8:06 AM EST

There is a big reason to party!! The Obama regime is on the ropes, peaked in the polls, the 2008 base is fractured, swing states are starting to swing, Romney should have the lead for good after the convention!!

@Perceptions: Citizens United wasn't decided for the 2008 election. You're comparing apples to oranges. Which is par for the course for Conservatives, make **** up then sell it as truth. It worked on you it should work on everyone else, right?

@Lloyd: Whether you support one corporate-sponsored candidate or the other, watching big money buy our election...whether from Wall Street, Main Street, or unions, or wherever...none of it is good for our democracy. So congratulations for cheering against your own vote, tool.

A question for those that defend unlimited spending: Do you really think that these mega-donors have your best interests in mind with their donations? Nearly every dollar spent from these mega-donors, whether they go to Republicans or Democrats, is a down payment for something. That “something” most assuredly will not benefit citizens except for the tiny minority of those donating. There will be tax breaks or programs benefiting the donors that must be paid for by taxpayers. There will be small to large d business that can’t afford to buy policy that will be severely impaired by rulings favoring the mega-businesses and this will likely be a net negative for US jobs and the economy. This isn’t a Republican versus Democrat issue, it is an issue of the rules being out of control to the detriment of the country at a time when it can ill afford it. You can’t blame either party, they are playing by the rules, but the rules are broken. We all should be concerned about what is happening to our country. The problems can be fixed if citizens make their voices heard.

Doesn't it warm the patriotic cockles of your heart to know your small-dollar contributions to Romney and the Republican Party are going toward providing billionaires with VIP-only expensively catered meals and top-dollar entertainment (though not top-notch entertainment)? Aren't you glad you can finance the red-carpet treatment of the rich and provide them with skyboxes from which the lords of the convention can look down on you?

Heck yes! Love to see the RNC financing fancy parties, junkets and travel with donations as opposed to watching the Obama's and the Obama administration funding the exact same items with middle calss tax payer dollars. Eveyone on the DNC side is on welfare event the administration!

Geez, can't you total losers pay for anything without sucking the life out of the middle class?